On August 17, a banking court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Zardari and other absconding suspects in the ongoing investigation.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 18 had approved the protective bail on the petition filed by the former president in the case and ordered him to appear before the relevant court before September 3.

The FIA is investigating 32 people, including Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in connection with money laundering from fake accounts.

Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.

Former president's other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed and his son, Abdul Ghani, were also arrested by FIA earlier this month whereas Majeed’s three other sons were granted interim bail.